Joliet approves 2025 water‑main replacement program; council OKs more than $70 million in contracts

Joliet City Council on Jan. 21 approved a slate of contracts and related resolutions to advance the city’s 2025 water main replacement program, part of a multi‑year effort tied to the city’s Lake Michigan water allocation.

The measures approved at the meeting together fund a program that the city said will replace roughly 30 miles of water main in 2025 and prioritize mains built before 1970 and lines with frequent breaks. The city’s Director of Public Utilities, Allison Swisher, told council the accelerated replacement schedule was requested by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources as a condition of the Lake Michigan water allocation.

The council approved multiple construction contracts for discrete project areas across the city and an amendment to an independent review contract for the alternative water source program. Swisher said the program is intended to reduce non‑revenue water — water lost to leaks — and that the city will replace lead service lines encountered during main replacements “from the home to the water main at no cost to the resident.” She said the city will mail residents project‑specific letters and hold an open house and will post interactive maps online showing the streets affected.

Council members asked about project selection, bidding and schedule. Swisher said projects were selected by age and frequency of breaks; bids were awarded to the lowest qualified bidders and were competitively priced. She said some projects cost more because they cross state routes requiring Illinois Department of Transportation coordination and because rock near the river increases excavation expense. Councilman Cesar Cardenas and others praised staff for competitive results and earlier savings on similar projects.

The council also approved a professional‑services amendment to Burns & McDonnell for independent review services tied to the alternative water source program and adopted a license agreement with the Forest Preserve District of Will County related to work in Hamill Woods Preserve. City staff said the total 2025 program budget currently exceeds $70 million but that final payments and quantity adjustments could reduce the total.

Votes at a glance

- Council memo 58‑25: Virginia Phase 1 Water Main Improvements — Award to PT Farrell Construction Co., $1,961,004.65 — approved (motion carried). - Council memo 59‑25: Twin Oaks Phase 1 — Award to M & J Underground Inc., $1,968,957.82 — approved. - Council memo 60‑25: Crings Acres Phase 2B — Award to Brandt Excavating Inc., $2,591,060.85 — approved. - Council memo 61‑25: North Downtown — Award to Deconstruction Inc., $7,251,953.29 — approved. - Council memo 62‑25: Railroad Street — Award to PT Farrell Construction Co., $2,610,424.27 — approved. - Council memo 63‑25: Emerald Lawns Phase 1 — Award to Austin Tyler Construction Inc., $5,682,093.90 — approved. - Council memo 64‑25: Glenwood Manor — Award to Len Cox & Sons Excavating, $5,385,957.66 — approved. - Council memo 65‑25: Midland & Campbell — Award to Len Cox & Sons Excavating, $3,923,952.36 — approved. - Council memo 66‑25: Upper Bluff — Award to Austin Tyler Construction Inc., $5,685,247 — approved. - Council memo 67‑25: Broadway (Theodore to Ruby) — Award to Austin Tyler Construction Inc., $10,496,982.64 — approved. - Council memo 68‑25: Hickory Creek West — Award to Ares Inc., $4,615,949 — approved. - Council memo 69‑25: Highland Phase 2 — Award to Ares Inc., $2,649,317 — approved. - Council memo 70‑25: Marquette Park — Award to Construction by Camco Inc., $4,789,334.41 — approved. - Council memo 71‑25: North Prairie — Award to Austin Tyler Construction Inc., $4,792,227.63 — approved. - Council memo 72‑25: Reedwood Phase 3 — Award to Len Cox & Sons Excavating, $3,678,375.13 — approved. - Council memo 73‑25: Amendment No. 2 — Burns & McDonnell (independent review services for alternative water source program), $3,141,972 — approved.

Why it matters

The work is a central element of Joliet’s multi‑year water‑main replacement plan tied to the city’s Lake Michigan water allocation and to reducing water loss in the distribution system. Replacing old mains and lead service lines affects neighborhoods across the city and is likely to produce short‑term construction impacts and longer‑term reliability benefits.

Details and next steps

City staff said residents in affected neighborhoods will receive letters with project timelines and that the public will have opportunities to review project maps and schedules online. Swisher said some projects will begin in early spring and others later in the summer; she will provide specific start dates when available. The city said lead service line replacements uncovered during main work will be handled at no cost to homeowners.

Council members and staff emphasized the program’s scale and the need for coordination with state agencies and contractors; they also said bids this season were competitive because contractors plan summer schedules in advance. The council approved the suite of contracts and associated agreements to let the work proceed.